There isn’t much you can say about the Baltimore Orioles’ performance tonight. Seriously. The scoreboard indicates that it was outstanding, starting with Cade Povich on the bump. But how good was it, this against a hapless team? Povich’s line: 7.1 IP, 5 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 10 K.
Privately I called yesterday’s game ugly. I’m not sure how to describe this. Simply put, the Orioles steamrolled from the beginning. They led 2-0 after two first inning RBI-doubles, one by Ryan O’Hearn and another by Anthony Santander. Colton Cowser added an RBI-single, and the Birds led 3-0.
It got worse (or better in a sense) in the second. The O’s loaded the bases after three walks, this with two outs. Colton Cowser would draw a fourth walk, extending the lead to 4-0. However it appeared that Chicago starter Nastrini got out of the inning when he induced a pop fly down the left field line. However two Chicago players collided in the outfield, the ball dropped in, and it cleared the bases. The Birds led 7-0.
It’s tough to gauge how the Orioles played in this game given that it was such a mismatch. Both on paper and in practice. However one thing that made a huge difference was chasing the aforementioned Nastrini early. And they did it not by the sheer number of runs they scored, but by the number of pitches. Nastrini threw 72 pitches in two innings. Partly due to the Orioles taking a lot of pitches. And partly during to them hitting the ones they didn’t take.
Cedric Mullins added an RBI-single in the fourth, and Anthony Santander a sac fly-RBI in the fifth. It’s easy to say they couldn’t score late in the game, what the heck?! But odds are they called the dogs off. As was the case yesterday, this game was ugly.
Cade Povich pitched deeper than he ever had before in a game – 7.1 innings. Yes, Chicago hitters didn’t really seem like they were looking to do much. But he was also economical – he pitched into the eighth with ten strikeouts (also a career high). He also ensured that the Orioles won a game that they should have won handily. He did his part, and the bats did theirs.
The most drama that was in this game came in the sixth inning when Chicago (acting) manager Grady Sizemore was ejected for arguing balls and strikes by home plate umpire Hunter Wendlestadt. To show he wasn’t kidding, Wendlestadt then ejected Andrew Benintendi for the same thing a moment later. Needless to say, it’s always something. And for the record, Chicago had a legitimate gripe with home plate.
The series concludes tomorrow at Camden Yards. Albert Suarez gets the start for the Birds, and he’ll be opposed by Chicago’s Jonathan Cannon. Game time is set for just after 6:30 PM.
Birdland Crush 